Real-world examples help students, especially with online trading

Colleges often take a bad rap for being too “theoretical.” There is a misconception that the “real world” takes a back seat to learning about how things “should” work.

At Aims Community College, this could not be farther from the truth. All of our courses, especially our Career and Technical Education ones, are grounded in giving students the information they need to succeed.

As an example, I teach an Online Stocks class through the Computer Information Systems program. This course is designed for the beginner investor to show them how they can make “real-world” trades now. The course covers most aspects of online stock trading. Students research and analyze stocks and develop their own stock portfolio. We even start a class investment club. This course will also feature a competition between students to help them earn the most money via online trading using virtual dollars.

Based on the spring 2007 Online Stocks course, the course this fall will have more emphasis in option trading. In option trading, there is less money at risk and a potential higher rate of return. For example, you can purchase 100 shares of Google stock for approximately $50,000 or buy options for the same number of shares of Google stock for approximately $2,000. Either strategy could yield great potential profits, but with options, you are risking much less.

Who can make the most money? There will be structured trading exercises where the students will be competing against each other (and sometimes me). The purpose of these competitions is to give the student experience with programming a strategy and placing their trade on a secure site where other students can view all the class trades. The competition will give the students the opportunity to adopt or modify their strategies.

You can’t get much more “real world” than that. We’ll even be talking about how investors can profit from upcoming 2008 events like the Olympics and the presidential election.

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The Online Stocks class is just one example of how Aims Community College is able to offer the latest in “real-world” technology, trends and events that students can apply to their “real lives” immediately.

Rex Parr teaches in the Computer Information Systems program at Aims Community College. He has more than 20 years experience investing in the stock market and has been a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NASD), dealing in Mutual Funds, Variable Annuities and various financial strategies.